CORR Insights^®: Adverse Local Tissue Reaction Associated With a Modular Hip Hemiarthroplasty

Excerpt

An inherent problem in joint arthroplasty surgery is the generation of wear debris. Long-term studies of hip implant survival demonstrate that wear debris can remain below a threshold that is well-tolerated by patients. New materials (cross-linked polyethylene, ceramic bearing surfaces) have been developed to improve wear characteristics of the articulation. However, as we are now unfortunately aware, some new implant designs have produced more wear and corrosion debris than traditional implants. Hemiarthroplasties generally were believed to be unlikely to cause these kinds of problems. However, even a unipolar hemiarthroplasty may have a modular connection (the trunnion), and this connection may be the source of corrosion that can cause a biologically important tissue reaction. …